"There." Adam pointed out. "The kind of fury you're feeling right now is the same I'm feeling. Over the months, I have learned to understand my client's emotional trauma. She's a victim and yet she was made to look like the villain. Back to the story; after he cheated on her—"

"Do we really have to talk about this now?" Yusuf massaged his forehead. "It's surprising how the first thing we're talking about after meeting or the first time in months, is this."

"It's also surprising how apathetic you are regarding this." He retorted.

"Trust me, Adam, these things do bother me as well and that's why I try as much as possible to avoid the topics." Yusuf heaved a sigh. "Alright, what else did your client's husband do to her?"

"Ex-husband." Adam corrected.

"Right. Ex. What else did he do?"

"After he cheated and she forgave him, he took in a second wife. She didn't create a fuss about it, because as a Muslim, she knew he had the right."

"Let me guess, he favored the new wife over the old one."

"Exactly. Again, she endured the injustice because she was told to always have patience, as it is the virtue of all women. Things got out of hand when he began to hit her for the slightest mistake. She decided enough was enough when she had a miscarriage after he beat her to a pulp. I'm glad that in the end, she got the justice she deserves. The horrible man is now out of her life and rotting in jail."

"That's a relief. You did a good job. I'm so proud of the kind of lawyer you've turned out to be." Right from when they were still in school, Yusuf knew his friend would never turn out to be a corrupt lawyer. He had always had people's interest at heart—a people's person. It was one of the traits Yusuf greatly admired about his friend.

"Thank you." Adam picked up the polythene bag he had kept on the bed and handed it to Yusuf. "Here is what I brought for you."

"What's inside?" He raised the bag. "I didn't think you'd take my words seriously."

"If you're so curious, why don't you open it and see for yourself?"

At the sight of his favorite cologne, Yusuf's eyes dilated in delight. "Thanks, man. I appreciate this."

"I knew you would. Now, tell me, where is the girl who has stolen your heart?" He wiggled a brow.

At the mention of that, a smile curled up Yusuf's face. "Larai."

"What?" Adam's expression morphed into incomprehension. 

"Her name's Larai. I think I have mentioned that to you before."

"Oh! Where is she? I want to meet her."

"She should be in her room."

"Her room, huh? She already has a room?"

"Of course." Yusuf sneered. "Do you expect her to sleep in the parlor? The guestroom is where she's staying."

"That's about to change soon though." A mischievous grin etched Adam's face.

"What are you talking about?" The corner of Yusuf's lips quirked.

"Soon, she won't have to stay in the guestroom anymore. Come on, tell me, when is the wedding?"

"Hey!" Yusuf chuckled. "Don't get ahead of your shadow. My family doesn't even know I love her yet."

"Woah! So they actually think she's just a girl you decided to help? What are you waiting for? Why haven't you told them already? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"There's nothing." Yusuf clarified. "I haven't told them yet, because I'm waiting for when the time is right. I talked with Ammi, regarding Larai's studies and she is in support of me wanting to further her education."

"And? It doesn't add up to me."

"I'm certain that she's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, but before that, I want her to further her education and get a good job—this way, she will be independent and her family would be proud of her. Knowing how people can be judgemental, I don't want them and even my family to think she's not deserving of me. In all honesty, I think I'm the one who doesn't deserve her. She's so pure...so serene. She's the nicest person I have ever met."

"You truly do love her a lot." Adam smiled. "While you spoke of her, I saw the gleam in your eyes. I must say, she's got some superpowers. Effortlessly, she succeeded in making you forget all about Raihana."

Yusuf hummed—he wished it was the case. He also thought he had forgotten about Raihana until she made the call that made him realize he was still hurt by her betrayal. "She's a gem."

"Now, you're making me more eager to meet this gem of a person, that has made my friend fall head over heels in love with her. Larai." He tested the name on his lips. "Her name sounds unique. I like it and by your description of her, I think I like her as well."

"Wait until you meet her, you're going to like her even more." A small frown marred his forehead. "But in doing so, remember she's off-limits."

"We will see about that." Adam snickered.

•

Larai sat by the foot of the bed; her limbs folded. For the past two hours, she had tried to get Yumnah's words out of her mind, but it kept on returning. The fact that Yusuf used to love someone so much bothered her. She could not help, but believe Yumnah.'s word. If Yusuf really loved her as he claimed, why had he never mentioned his ex to her? And why did he speak so angrily with her over the phone? She didn't want to believe what Yumnah had said, but his actions were pointing in the direction. Ever since they returned from the mall, he hadn't made any effort to see her. As a matter of fact, it seemed he was deliberately avoiding her.

She swallowed a glob of nerves in her throat and rested her back on the body of the bed and shook her head. She needed clarification from Yusuf, for her thoughts were already threatening to drive her insane.

"Larai? Are you in there?" Yusrah's voice resonated from behind the door.

She didn't realize a tear had fallen from her eyes until she felt the salty liquid on her taste bud. She quickly wiped the tear away and sat up straight. "Yes."

Yusrah pushed open the door and advanced in. Her brows dilated in perplexity. "Are you alright?"

"Huh?" Larai remarked. It was astonishing how Yusrah noticed something was bothering her, despite how hard she tried to mask her true feeling,  

"There's a tear on your left cheek." She pointed out and crouched in front of her. "You can talk to me if something is bothering you. Who knows maybe I could be of help?"

Larai lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers. She badly wanted to open up to someone, but by so doing, Yusrah would find about the feelings she had for Yusuf. If it ever comes out in the open, she didn't want to be the one to disclose it. Yusuf had to be the one to do it. It was his family after all.

"I understand you don't trust me yet, so it's fine if you don't want to tell me about your worries."

"It's not like that." Larai was quick to disagree. She looked up at Yusrah and more tears rolled down her cheeks. "I just miss my family a lot."

"That's normal. You've never been away from them, right?"

Larai nodded curtly; her tears still streaming down her face in an uncontrollable manner. "They must be so worried about me. Baaba may not show it, but I know he loves me so much. Nna must still be crying and Azumi must miss me a lot."

"Azumi? Is she your sister?"

"Yes, she's my younger sister. She's just fourteen. I don't want to say this, but at times, I regret agreeing to run away with Yusuf. Please don't think I'm an ingrate, I really am not. I'm aware of everything he's done for me. I appreciate all the sacrifices he has made for me, but I just can't get rid of the feeling from my mind." She cried.
"I don't think I can do this anymore. I just want to go back home to my village." Her shoulder shuddered as the intensity of her sobs increased. She didn't want it to get to the point where Yusuf would tell her he only helped her out of humanity and that he didn't really love her. Her heart was too fragile to be able to take that.

Yusrah grabbed Larai's trembling hand in hers and caressed. "You don't have to be apologetic for feeling that way. You're not apathetic, so it's perfectly normal for you to feel this way. I can't even begin to imagine myself in your shoes. Ammi, Abba, and Yusuf mean a lot to me. Though Yumnah can be annoying, I can't imagine her not being around me. I'm so used to her company, that I feel sick whenever she goes away to have a sleepover with her friends or when she goes on a vacation to a relative's. So, you see, I know exactly how you feel. It's not easy. It isn't meant to be easy, but at the end of all these, you won't be at the losing end. When you go back home, your parents are going to accept you back with open arms. Your father won't try to force you to get married to someone again."

"Or maybe not." A humorless smile appeared on Larai's face. "Baaba is very stubborn. He won't let me off the hook that easily. I know him well."

"No matter how stone-hearted he is, he will never be able to turn his back on you. I'm sure of it. He is still your father."

"Thank you." Though her heart was still in distress due to the things Yumnah had said regarding Yusuf and Raihana's relationship, speaking to Yusrah had made her feel more at ease.

Yusrah smiled in response. "I almost forgot why I'm here. Yusuf wants you to meet his friend. They are waiting for you in the parlor."

"To meet his friend?" Confusion marred Larai's forehead. "Why does he want me to meet his friend."

Yusrah shrugged. "No idea. You should hurry up and meet them there." With that said, Yusrah turned around and used the exit.

Larai picked up her hijab—the same one Azumi had given to her with so much love. She exhaled roughly and put it on, before leaving the room for the living room.

She met Yusuf and Adam seated beside each other on the sofa. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice her presence in the room.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words could emerge, so she ended up closing it.

"Is she the one?" Adam whispered to his friend.

Larai's hand clenched by her side.

Yusuf raised his head and his gaze met with that of Larai, but it only lasted for a second, before he averted it back to his friend and nodded.

That little act of his had pain surging into Larai's heart. Was she so irritable that he couldn't look at her anymore?
Back in the village, his stares were always so intent, but since she arrived at his house, she had begun to notice drastic changes in him.

"Please sit." Yusuf gestured to the sofa opposite from him. 

Larai sat there and looked everywhere, but them.

"Larai," Yusuf began. "This is Adam. He is my childhood friend and a renowned lawyer across the country and even beyond—the most uncorrupted lawyer you'd ever find."

Adam let out a chuckle of gratification and turned to Larai. "Don't mind him,   I'm not as great as he portrayed me to be. He's a flatterer. He can win over anybody by his skilled act of flattery."

Yusuf sneered and threw a playful punch at his friend's shoulder. "Don't say that to her."

Why? Is it because it's the truth?

There was a mighty force trying to push Larai to voice out her thoughts, but she was able to fight it back.

"I was only kidding." Adam laughed.

"Adam." Yusuf continued with his introduction. "You already know her, but well...this is Larai."

He is embarrassed to introduce you to his friend.

That's it? To him, I'm just 'Larai'?

Larai didn't know how she expected him to introduce her, but definitely not in the way he did. It would have been much better if he added 'the girl I picked up from the village, due to pity'. "Excuse me." She stood and strode back to her room.

Closing the door behind her, she reclined against it and vigorously wiped the tears that had welled up in her eyes. She couldn't decode why every little act of Yusuf's affected her.  Perhaps, it was because she loved him too much—way more than he claimed to love her.

•

Assalamualaikum/hello!

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